Machine for assembling parts of boots and shoes.



O. ASHTON.

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS OF BOOTS AND SHOES. APPLICATION IILED 00123, 1910.

1,109,655, Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

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0. ASHTON.

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED 0012.3, 1910.

1,109,655, Patented Sept.8,1914.

MT/VESZS'ES. K MMM O. ASHTON. MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

1,109,655, Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

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MACHINE FOR AS SEMBLING PARTS OF BOOTS AND SHOES. APPLICATION FILED 0013, 1910.

1,109,655, Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

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MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PARTS OF BOOTS AND SHOES. APPLICATION FILED 00123, 1910.

1,109,655. Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

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UNITED STATES. PATENT. OFFICE.

oRRELL' ASHTON, 0F swamrsco'r'iyMAssAcHUsETTs, ASSIGNGR TO UNITED snon MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A ccnronariou OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLIN 'G PARTS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented septa 1914;

Application riled October 3, 1910. Serial No. 585,111.

drawings'indicating like parts in the severalfigures; 1

This invention relates to machines for assembling parts of boots and shoes, and for purposes of illustration an embodiment thereof has been selected and applied as an improvement upon a machine of the type described in my prior Patent of the United States No. 1,023,794, granted April 23, 1912. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to embodiment in a machine of the particular type describedin said application.

In the earlier machine above referred to, provision is made for inserting a fastening in the rear face of an upper mounted upon a last, for the purpose of securing the upper to the last. in practice it is often desirable to be able to insert such -a fasteningvat any one of a plurality of different points in the rear face of the upper. It is usually desired to insert the fastening quite near the cone of the last and. since different sizes and stylesof lasts vary greatly in height, it is necessary to be able to insert the fastemng'at any point throughout a considerable vertical range. In many lasts, especially those for ladies shoes. the cone portion of the last is quite thin and t is advantageous to insert the fastening at one side of a median line of the heel of the last and often at more or less of an angle with relation to the central longitudinal plane thereof.

An important featureof the present invention accordingly comprises a fastening inserting device capable of movement into,

various transverse relations to the Shoe. This may consist of a tack driver carried upon a head which is adjustable transversely of the last to permit the insertion of a tack atany desired distance from a median line of the heel. For the purpose of varying the angle at Which the tack may be driven,I preferably mount the head carryin the tack driver upon a frame. which may e swung horizontally about a point near or Within the heel of the last. The driver may be controlled from a suitably formed cam member upon the main shaft of the machine. By the provision of means for clamping the swinging frame in adjusted po ition I am enabled to insert the tack or other fastening in various angular relations to the median plane extending longitudinally in the direction of the height of the shoe. The driver is preferably carried in a guide which may be vertically adjustable upon the swinging frame referred to in order to insert the fastening at any desired height.

ln the operation of :lfiiselllbllllg a shoe, after the. insertion of the fastening above mentioned the upper is drawn tightly and smoothly over the edge of the last at the heel. To effect this operation the present invention contemplates the provision of a Wiper which may be mounted upon a reciprocating carriage 'Wllltfl] may be adjustable with relation to'its actuating means in the direction of the Wiping action in order to vary the limits between which the wiper moves. Upon the wiper l mount a suitable tack driver and .provide means for indicating to the operatpr the correct position for the shoe. 1

A further object of the invention is to make the machine as nearly automatic as possible, to the end that it may require but a minimum of skill and'attention on the part of the operator. \Vith this object in view a jack or other suitable. means for su porting the shoe is provided with suitab c connections to mechanism for starting the machine. Other means are preferably pro vided for completing the movement of the jack into operative position after the machine has been started by the operator givin an initial movement to the jack.

Vith the object in view of Wiping the upper smoothly and tightly over the rear edge of the last. and forming a sharp and well defined edge at that place a further feature of the invertion consists in means for applying pressure to the jack during the wiping operation. This is herein shown in the form of a positively actuated pressure rod yieldingly connected to the jack, and I have also provided an additional pressure rodfor applying extra pressure at approximately the end of the wiping operation in order to add to and improve the results due thereto. Both the normal and extra pressure should be released before retracting the wiper.

A V-shaped back gage is spring pressed against the rear of the shoe, and I preferably mount .the carrier for the back gage in a portion of the stationary frame of the machine in such amanner that it may be readily adjusted in height and lateral position independently of all other parts.

In ractice it is sometimes desirable to omit t e driving of the tack in the rear face of the shoe. A further object of the present invention romprises the provision of means for throwing the lower or counter tack driver out of operation when necessary, and such means may take the form of a pin which may be interposed in the path of the driver arm to prevent operation of the latter without otherwise interfering with the operation of the machine.

Further-detailed features of the invention, combinations of parts and advantages to be realized by the use thereof will be best understood by a consideration of the" following description and appended claims.

n the drawings: Figure l is a 'side elevation of the machine; Fig.2 is a front elevation of the upper portion thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the cam and cooperating mechanism for controlling the lower tack driver; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the machine, looking in the opposite direction from Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the starting and jack operating mechanism; Figs. 6 and7 are details of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lower tack driving mechanism; l igs. S) and 10 are de-' tail views of the. tack driver; and Fig. 11 is a detail of the wiper carriage actuating slide.

, The stationary base or frame which supports the various operating mechanisms of the machine is designated by the reference numeral 2. To the lower portion of said frame is pivoted a tubular jack support 6. A. jack post 8, for supporting a last carrying an insole a lining, a counterand an upper constituting the shoe to be 0perated upon, is mounted to slide up andv down within the pivoted member 6 being connected thereto by a pin-and-slot con-- nection as shown at 10. A pin 12 at the upper end of said post receives and supports the last. The post 8 is threaded intermediate its ends at 14 and is surrounded by an internally threaded sleeve 16 having a knurled outer surface to afford a secure hand hold. The sleeve 16 is provided with shoulders at 18 which rest upon the upper surface 20 of a support 22. The support 22 is slotted at 24 to allow the passage of the jack post and a flattened portion of the sleeve 16 below the shoulders 18 enters the slot and prevents rotation of thesleeve. When it is desired to adjust the height of the jack post 8, the pin-and-slot connection 10 will permit the post to be elevated suiiiciently to withdraw the lower end of the sleeve 16 from Y the slot 24,- thus allowing the sleeve to be screwed up or down upon the post. After dropping theparts back into their normal position the post willbe sustained at the adjusted height by the shoulders 18 of the sleeve resting upon the support 22 as previously described. The support 22 is pivoted at its rear end to a bracket 26 mounted upon the stationary base 2 and isactuated by devices hereinafter described to apply upward pressure to the jack post.

Projecting from the tubular member 6' is a bracket 28 which-is connected by a connecting rod 30 to the center of a pair of toggle links 32, 34. The lower end of the link 34 is pivoted at 36 to the stationary base 2. The connection between the connecting rod 30 and the bracket 28 is made yielding by a pin-and-slot connection 31 and a spring 33 interposed between the connecting rod and bracket. The central pivot 38 of the toggle is a floating one and the 11 per end of the link 32 is pivoted at 40 to a b oek 42 sliding ina stationary vertical guideway 44. The link 32 is, also connected by its upper pi vot 40 to a friction grip device 46 and the latter thus reciprocates vertically with the block 42. The friction grip device c mprises a cramping member 48 pivoted to the block 46 and normally pressed away therefrom by the spring 50. Thefriction grip device surrounds a'starting rod 52 which extends upwardly to a one-revolution stop clutch mounted upon and controlling the operation of the main shaft 54. The

lower end of the supporting rod is guided in a stationary shelf 56 and is surrounded by a spring 58 bearing upon said shelf and upon a collar 60 adjustably secured upon the startin rod. The spring 58 tends to move the, rod 52 upwardly into position to stop necting rod 30 will be moved in the same direction, thus throwing the pivotal connection 38 toward the rear and drawing down the friction grip device 46. When the latter is in its uppermost position as is the case when starting the machine, the cramping member 48 will securely grip the rod 52 which will thus be drawn downwardly with the friction grip 46 and the mechanism controlled thereby will be released to start the machine.

On the main shaft 54 is mounted a cam 62.

A lever 64 has its rear end pivoted at a stationary point 66. Upon said lever is mounted a cam roll 68 traveling in the cam way 62 and the forward end of said lever is pivotally connected to a pressure rod 7 0, the lower end of which is guided for vertical movement in the shelf 56. In the stopped position of the machine, the rod 70 is in its owermost position. The said rod passes through a laterally projecting portion of the support 22 and is surrounded by a spring 72, the lower end of which is adjustably supported upon a nut 74 and the upper end of .which bears on the under side of the support 22. The lower end of the pressure rod 70 is also connected to an arm 76 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 7 8 to the base 2. The end of the second arm 80 of the bell crank engages a downwardly extending projection 82 formed upon the rear end of the connecting rod 30. After the machine is started in the manner previously described the cam 62 will cause the pressure rod 70 to move upwardly and, through the connections just described, to effect further rearward movement of the jack.

- ment of the friction grip device continues,

the finger 8-1 projecting rearwardly from the cramping member 48 strikes an adjustable stop 86 mounted in the stationary bracket The friction grip is thus released and the starting rod 52 is returned by the spring 58 into position to stop the machine upon the v completion of one revolution of the shaft.

The elevation of the pressure rod increases the tension of tlie spring 72 -suiticiently to apply considerable upward pressure to the support 22. As the upward movement of the pressure rod is continued, other devices, now to be described, are actuated to apply additional upward pressure to the said support and the jack post carried thereby.

An extra pressure rod 90 is guided for ver tical movement in a bracket 92 upon the frame 2. A cramping member 94 loosely Surrounds th squared upper end of the eX- tra pressure rod and upon being rotated about a horizontal axis will securely grip the Said rod. The outer end of the member 94 is bifurcated at 96 and embraces the pressure rod 70. Upon the latter a block 98 is adjustablysecured by set screws or other As the downward move- 1 suitable means in such position as to engage the under side of the fork S (3 during the latter part of the upward movement of the pressure rod 70. A heavy spring 100 is interposed between the extra pressure rod 90 and the under side of the support 22, the tension of the said spring being adjustable by means of nuts 102. A guide roller 10$ assists in guiding the rod 70 in its vertical movement and the upward movement of the support 22 is limited by an adjustable stop screw 106.

As the last, carrying the shoe and mounted upon the pin 12, is moved toward the machine by the operator, the machine is auto- .matically started and, by the mechanism already described, the jack is drawn into the machine and securely held there during succeeding operations A A V-shaped rear gage 108 is pivoted upon a bracket 110 which is adjustable upon a stationary vertical guide rod 112 and may be secured in any desired position thereon by a thumb screw 111. Horizontal adjustment of the gage is provided for by a screw and slot connection between the gage and its support, as shown in Fig. 2. The gage 108 is yieldingly pressed forwardly by a spring 116 and is entirely independent of all the other elements of the machine in its mounting and operation.

The sides of the shoe in its movement into the machine are engaged by a pair of pivoted work engaging members 118 as in the machine of the a 'iplicatiowal)ove referred 0 to. These members are provided with intcrmcshing gear segments 121) and are pressed toward each other by springs 122 which are incascd in housings 124,their movement toward each other being limited 1 by an adjustable stop screw 126. 'The rear end of the last is drawn for a short distance under the wiper 128 and is engaged and centered by the back gage 108. The wiper 128 and the work engaging members 1 118 are mounted upon a reciprocable wiper carriage 174. to be hereinafter more fully described. The wiper-128 is provided with a downwardly and forwardly extending edge 130 upon its tip which serves as an indicatin to assist the operator in properly guiding and centering the shoe as it is started in the machine. The rear gage 108 also facilitates accurate placing of the rear end of the last in operative relation to the 13 tack driver 131 which is located in proper position to insert a tack through the rear face of the upper, counter and lining into the last. The driver 134 is guided in a support 136 which is inclined forwardly and a driver arm 144 engaging the rear end thereof. An extended faceis formed at 146 upon the driver arm and the connection 147 between the arm and the driver is such as to allow relative vertical motion therebetween in order that the vertical adjustment of the driver support shall not interfere with the o ration of the machine. The arm 144 is pivoted at 148 to a bracket 150 and is connected by a link 152 to a cam lever 151 which is also pi oted at 156 to the bracket 150. The upper end of the cam lever is provided with a roll 158 which engages a cam 160 mounted upon the main shaft 54. The spring surrounding the pivot 148 normally urges the driver arm forward and the latter is retracted against the tension of said spring by the cam 160 operating through tie cam lever and link just described. At the proper point in the operation of the machine the roll 158 drops off the shoulder of the cam 160 and the tack is driven. is sometimes desired to omit the driving of this tack, and I have made provision for this by making an aperture through the bracket 1:30, through which a pin 151 may be inserted when the driver arm 144 is retracted, the pin passing in front of said arm and preventing operation of the latter by its spring. It Wlll beapparent that, aside from the operation of this tack driver, none of the other functions of the machine will be interfered with. The pin 151 is attached by a chain 153 to the frame of the machine to prevent misplacement or loss when not in use. The head 140 is mounted upon a swinging table 164, a tongue and groove connection 161 between the head and table permitting adjustment of the former upon the latter in a straight line transvcrsely of the last, thus making it possible to insert the tack at any desired point transversely of the rear face of the shoe.

A circular slotted guideway 162 is formed in the stationary base 2 and receives a correspondingly formed downwardly projecting tongue upon the swinging table 164 which supports the parts of the tack driving mechanism as just described. A guideway 166 concentric with the guideway 162 is also formed in a portion of the stationary frame 2 and receives and guides a projection 168 formed upon a block attached to the upper end of the bracket 150 which is rigid with the table 164. The swinging table 164 carrying the tack driving mechanism is clamped in any desired position of angular adjustment by a screw clam operated by a handle 170. The center a mt which the parts described rotate is preferably located within the heel of the last when the latter is in its position in the machine and the rear face of the cam 160 is concentric with the guides 162 and 166 so that the tack driving mechanism will properly cooperate with justed position by tightening the nut u on' the spindle carrying said eccentric. he roll 176 engages a cam 178 mounted upon the main shaft 54. A spring 180 surrounding a rod 182 projecting rearwardly from the wiper carriage and bearing a ainst the stationary bracket 184 normally raws the carriage back to the real-most limit of its travel. A heel block 132 is mounted upon the forward end of a rod 133 slidable in a suitable guideway in the wiper carriage 174.,

A nut 13:) threaded upon the rear end of the rod 133 provides for adjustment of the block 132 forwardly and rearwardly of the wiper carriage. Adjustment of the block with relation to the wiper is thus effected by rotation of the nut 135; and adjustment of the limits between which the carriage and the wipe! 128, the work engaging members 118, and the heel block 132 carried thereby travel is accomplished by rotation of the eccentric 179. After the insertion of a fastening in the rear face of the shoe by the tack driving mechanism previously described, the cam 17S moves the wiper carriage forwa'rd against the tension of the spring 180 and completes the o eration of wi ing the upper, counter $11K lining over t e rear edge of the last and the insole carried thereby. During this wiping operation the last is pressed upwardly by the pressure rod through the medium of the spring 72. Apn-oximately at the end of the wiping operation the extra pressure rod {)0 comes into play and through the medium of the heavy spring 100strong upward pressure is applied to the jack. The wiped-over shoe parts are thus forced strongly against the wiper and the block 132, thus insuring a smooth and sharp edge upon the shoe at that point. A tack driver'186 now comes into operation to drive a tack through the wiped-over upper, counter and innersole to secure the same to the last in their assembled relation. the reciprocable wiper carriage 174 and op crates through the rear end of the wiper. A driver arm 188 is pivoted at 190 upon said carriage and is urged by a spring 192 to operate the driver. The driver arm is retracted by a cam 194 mounted upon the main shaft 54 and engaged by a roll 196 open the arm.

The internal construction of the tack driver is more clean, shown in Figs. 9 and The driver 186 is mounted upon engages in a fork 208 carried by a transversely reciprocable slide 210 upon which is pivotally mounted a dog 212 for feeding a suitable tack strip, The lower or throat part of the driver passage is formed in a block 214 which is removably held in place by the slide 216 pressed downwardly by the spring 218. Retracting the slide 216, it is held by the latch 220 and the block 214 may be easily removed for the purpose of clearing the throat of dirt and the like.

In the operation of the machine the last, carrying the insole, upper, counter and l ning in their proper relation, is placed upon the pin 12 of the jack. The last is then started by the operator into the machine. By the depression of the starting rod 52 through the connections between the latter and {the jack, the machine is started. The pressure rod 70 is lifted by its cam and through the bell crank 76, 8O draws the jack the remainder of the way in the machine and holds it there during the succeeding operations, applying upward pressure thereto through the spring 7 2. The tack driver now drivesa tack through the rear face of the shoe into the last and the wiper begins its forward movement. Approximately at the end of such forward movement of the wiper, the extra pressure rod 00 comes into operation and the last is pressed strongly against the wiper. The additional movement of the rod 70 necessary to bring the extra pressure device into operation is permitted by the yielding connection between the connecting rod 30 and the jack. The driver 186 which has been retracted is now released and drives the upper tack. The parts are so timed that the pressure upon the jack is released and the jack let down before the retraction of the wiper which is effected by the spring 180 and, the rod 52 having previously been released by the stop 86, the machine is stopped automatically at the end of a single revolution and can not again be started un til the jack is pulled forward and again moved toward the machine.

It will be noted that the block 132 or counter gage, as it may be termed, comes in contact with the last at approximately the end of the forward movement of the wiper and places the last in the proper position for the tack, first holding the counter firmly to the last. lt thus serves to determine the location of the tack on the insole for fastening the insole, upper and counter together. When the wiper comes forward it engages the shoe and carries it forwardly before the tack is driven insuring that the counter is close to the last and insole before this operation.

The present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described. The invention is of a generic character and may be embodied in a machine of quite different construction from that herein described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for assembling parts of boots and shoes having, in combination, means for supporting a shoe and means for inserting a fastening in the shoe at a point out of the plane of the sole thereof, said fastening inserting means being movable into a plurality of angular relations to a median plane extending longitudinally in the direction of the height of the shoe.

2. A machine for assembling parts of boots and shoes having, in combination, means for supporting a shoe and means for inserting a fastening in the shoe at a point out of the plane of' the sole thereof 'and in any one of a plurality of angular relations to a median plane extending longitudinally in the direction of the height of the shoe.

3. A machine for assembling parts of boots and shoes having, in combination, means for supporting a shoe and a driver for inserting a tack in said shoe at a point out of the plane of the sole thereof, said driver being mounted to swing horizontally through various angles, whereby the tack may be inserted in any one of a plurality of angular relations to a median plane extending longitudinally in the direction of the height of the shoe.

4. A machine for assembling parts of boots and shoes having, in combination, a last, means for wiping an upp r over the edge of said last, automatic me us for applying pressure to said last during the wiping operation, and additional automatic means for applying additional pressure to said last at the completion of said wiping operation.

5. A machine for assembling parts of boots and shoes, having, in combination, a last, means forwiping an upper over the edge of said last, meansfor applying pressure to said last during the wiping operation, means for applying additional pressure to the last at the completion of the wiping operation, and means for inserting a fastening in said upper while said extra pressure is applied.

6. A machine "for assembling parts of boots.,and"shoes having, in combination, a last, means for wiping an upper over the edge of said last, automatic means for apheight of the last.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a last and means for inserting a fastening in the rear of the last, of a spring pressed back ga e for centering the last, said gage being a justable inthe direction of the height of the last.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a last, means for operating upon a shoe supported upon said last,

and a back gage for centering the last, said back gage being adjustable both verticall and horizontally, and mounted for yield ing movement about an upright axis.

10. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocable carriage, a wiper upon the carriage, a reciprocating slide moving through an invariable parth, and a connection between the carriage and slide comprising a movable eccentric upon the carriage and cooperating fixed portions upon the slide whereby, by changing the position of the eccentric, the limits of travel of the wiper may be changed.

11. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocable carriage, means for reciproeating said carriage, said means operating through an invariable path, an eccentric connection between said means and said carriage to vary the limits of the path of the carriage, and a wiper mounted upon said carriage.

12. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a shoe, and means for inserting a fastening in the rear face of the shoe, said fastening inserting means being independently ad'ustable transversely of the shoe and angu arly with relation thereto.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for S11 porting a shoe and means for inserting a astcning in the rear face ofthe shoe, said fastening inserting means being independently adjustable vertically, horizontally in a straight path, and horizontally in a curved path.

14. In a machine of the class described, a last, a swinging head, said head swinging about a center withinthc heel of the last, a tack driver carried by said swinging head, and a cam for operating said tack driver,

said cam having a surface concentric with the path in which said head swings.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of starting mechanism, a movable shoe su port, devices for operatin upon a shoe he d upon said sup ort, and operative connections between sal starting mechanism and said shoe support for starting the machine by movement of the shoe support.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wiping device, a fastening inserting device, a movable jack for presenting a shoe to the action of said devices, starting mechanism, and operative connections between said jack and starting mechanism.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wiping device, a fastening inserting device, a movable jack for presenting a shoe to the action of said devices, starting mechanism, connections between said jack and starting mechanism, operative upon the initial movement of the jack into the machine, and means for rendering said connections inoperative upon further movement of the jack.

18. A machine for assemblin parts of boots or shoes having, in com ination, a wiper, a jack movable toward and from the wiper, a slidable starting rod, connections, comprising a one way friction grip, bet-ween said jack and said Starting rod, whereby an initial movement of said jack will start the machine, means for releasing said friction grip after the machine has started, and means for restoring said starting rod to its original position.

19. In a machine of the class described, means for operating u on a shoe, a jack a friction grip connecte to and movable by said jack, a starting rod operatively engaged by said friction grlp during its initial movem'ent, and a stop engaged by said friction grip upon its further movement for releasirg it from engagement with said starting r 20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of movable shoe supporting means, devices for operating upon a shoe supported upon saidmeans, means actuated by an initial movement of said shoe supporting means, for starting the machine, and means for continuing the movement of said shoe supporting means.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wiper, a jack movable toward and from said wlper, starting mechanism actuated by an initial movement of said jack toward said wiper, and means for effecting further movement of the jack in the direction of said initial movement.

22. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a shaft, a wiper, a movable jack, starting mechanism connected to said jack for starting said shaft upon an initial movement of the jack, a cam upon said shaft, and connections between said cam and the jack for effecting further movement of the latter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my ORRELL ASHTON.

Witnesses JAMES O. WRIGHT, ARTHUR L. RUSSELL. 

